Rhode Islanders should not be surprised to find politicians asking for their autograph for the next 10 days.

The nearly 2,400 candidates who have filed to run for office have from July 3 through July 13 to collect the signatures of enough eligible voters to officially put them on the ballot. The thresholds range from 50 for some municipal offices to 1,000 signatures for U.S. Senate.

“Be prepared for people running for office to knock on your door and approach you at the market,” said Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis.

Candidates submit the signatures to local boards of canvassers, which validate them before sending them on to the Secretary of State’s office, which has until July 20 to certify that candidates collected enough signatures to officially be placed on the ballot for the Sept. 11 primary and Nov. 6 election.